Lord Mayor launches Brisbane Young Centre

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Wednesday June 6, 2012

A new initiative to provide genuine pathways out of homelessness for young people sleeping rough in Brisbane will be launched tonight in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley by the Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk and Mrs Anne Quirk, Chair of the Lord Mayor's Community Trust.

The Red Cross inspired support and service centre for homeless young people will be known as the Young Centre and has been named after Kevin Young and Kathy Young, founders of property group Property Club, which has been the principal supporter behind the development of programs to run from the Centre.

The Youngs, who have donated $1 million to the project over three years, are life-long supporters of the community work undertaken by Red Cross.

"When we discovered that the centre needed additional funds to continue during the planning stages we looked to the resources of the Property Club," they said.

"It's fantastic to see the project come to fruition knowing that these essential services will be provided to young people in need in the Brisbane community."

Executive Director for Red Cross in Queensland, Kevin Keeffe, says: "This fantastic commitment from the Lord Mayor's Community Trust and the Property Club will allow Red Cross to create pathways out of the cycle of homelessness for hundreds of young people.

"We want to ensure at-risk young people receive all the support they need to get back on track and achieve their life goals.

"The Centre will focus on building life skills and provide access to accommodation for an estimated 160 young people each year.

"The aim is to provide long-term pathways out of homelessness by providing support, training, housing and jobs.

"The Centre will also set up a rental subsidy program that will help 24 young people move off the streets and into their own accommodation."

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the Young Centre initiative was a positive way of showing young, homeless people the avenues of help available.

"We are ready to help them find housing, healthcare and employment. We want to give them the tools to change their lives for the better," Cr Quirk said.

"The Young Centre is just one initiative of the Lord Mayor's Community Trust, which has raised more than $4.5 million over eight years."

The Lord Mayor said there was a record turnout to Brisbane City Council's Homeless Connect event last week, which illustrated the importance of homeless people being able to access vital support services.